Casino campaign asks Arkansas court to dismiss challengeLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The campaign behind an effort to legalize casinos in three Arkansas counties is asking the state's highest court to dismiss a lawsuit trying to block votes for the ballot measure. Arkansas Wins in 2016 asked the state Supreme Court on Monday to dismiss the lawsuit by opponents that claims the ballot measure is misleading and that supporters didn't follow the law for reporting paid canvassers. The lawsuit asks the court...

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

High: 97 Low:65Today: Patchy fog before 11a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 97. Calm wind. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 65. Calm wind. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Calm wind...

Arkansas eyes tolls for 13-mile stretch of interstateLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — State highway officials have commissioned a study to determine whether the state should use tolls to build a new section of Interstate 49 in western Arkansas. The Arkansas Highway Commission is also asking consultants to study whether a private company should operate and maintain the proposed tollway instead of the state. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2ck0cJv ), highway officials are conside...

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Obituary: Phillip CarruthPhillip O. Carruth, Sr., 75, of Russellville, passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. The son of David and Elsie (Owen) Carruth, he was born June 25, 1941, in Evansville, Ind. Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at First United Methodist Church in Russellville. A private burial will be held at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Russellville by Humphrey Funeral Service....

Obituary: Brig PetersonBrig Peterson, age 63, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born on Feb. 9, 1953, in Quantico, Va., to Harry and Louisa Peterson. Brig served in the United States Air Force and was a former Battalion Chief with the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nev., for 32 years. He and his wife retired to Russellville where he was a former volunteer at the Pottsville Fire Department, and past president of...

Obituary: Florence FrankhouseFlorence Drummond Frankhouse, age 88, of Russellville, died Friday, Sept.16, 2016, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville. She was born June 20, 1928, to John Edward and Florence Helen Smith Drummond. Florence was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a travel agent who, during her career, visited 130 countries. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Penn State University. She loved to write and was a collector....

Obituary:William M. Stanley Jr.LOUISIANA — William M. “ Bill” Stanley Jr., formerly of Atkins, passed away Sept.5, 2016, at his home, at age 66. He was a Marine Specialist with DOW chemical and a resident of Brusly, La. He loved his friends, family and the outdoors. He was preceded in death by his father William M. Stanley Sr. He is survived by his wife, Gail Stanley; mother Vivian Stanley, daughter Cindy S. Guillot and Dale Dion; son Billy Wayne ( Amanda) Stanley; grandchi...

Obituary: Ollie McGuireATKINS — Ollie McGuire, 100, formerly of Atkins, died Saturday, Sept. 18, 2016, at Shepherd of the Hills Nursing Center in Branson, Mo. She was born Nov. 29, 1915, in Atwood, Okla., and was the daughter of Oll and Mary Horton Johnson. She was a homemaker and a member of the St. Joe Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 64 years, Otto McGuire; a granddaughter, Debra McVay; three sisters, Vestal Roach,...

Obituary: Anna BlevinsAnna Sue Blevins, 92, passed away on Sept. 12, 2016. She was born Nov. 7, 1923, in Atkins, to Reece Lafayette Alewine and Leah Emmert. Sue was known affectionately to her family as “Tu.” She and her sister, Doris Gray, delighted in telling stories of seemingly boundless youthful freedom and adventure in and around Atkins, climbing Crow Mountain and hopping trains with their friends. Sue was named the local high school homecoming queen in 1941....

Atkins starts Business Partners of the MonthATKINS — The Atkins School Board discussed the school’s Business Partner of the Month program, new band uniforms and approved items. The district adopted a new monthly program that recognizes school business partners for the support they provide. Superintendent Joe Fisher said the school wanted a way to recognize them. “We saw a need to recognize business partners who work with us to provide services to the school district,” he said. “Our firs...

Pottsville school receives $5,000 grantPOTTSVILLE — Pottsville High School was recently awarded a $5,000 grant. Ed Roberts, astronomy, physics and environmental science teacher, said the grant was received from the CenturyLink Teachers and Technology grant program. The program is funded by the Clarke M. Williams foundation and its purpose is to aid teachers in implementing technology in their classrooms. The money was used to purchase supplies such as Little Bits electronic kits wh...

Arkansas AG asks for oral arguments over LGBT protectionsLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is asking the state's highest court to hold oral arguments in the lawsuit challenging a city ordinance that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender orientation. Rutledge's office on Thursday asked for the arguments in the case she and opponents of Fayetteville's anti-discrimination ordinance have before the high court. A Washington County circuit judge earlier...

Obituary: Sarah KauffmanSarah Belle Kauffman, age 97, of Russellville, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at Bible Baptist Church. Burial will be in East Point Cemetery near Russellville and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. Visitation will be 5-6:30 p.m Thursday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will be published in a future edition of ...

Arkansas panel approves $200K for wife of killed constableLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Claims Commission has approved $200,000 for the wife of a constable killed by a horse he was trying to free from a fence on his neighbor's property. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2cCeLWc ) reports that Kenneth Johnson's wife was granted two separate awards for family members of officers who die in the line of duty. Johnson was killed in July 2015 after responding to a call on his personal ph...

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Obituary: Robin Freeman CLARKSVILLE — Robin Elaine Hogue Freeman, 46, died Sept. 14, 2016, in Clarksville. She was born Oct. 17, 1969, in Ozark. She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Lee Hogue and her husband, George Freeman. She is survived by her mother, Lillie Mae Hogue; four sons: Charlie Stepp (Kayla), Larry Wheeler Stepp, Darren Wheeler Stepp, and Raymond Hogue; a daughter, Charcina Stepp; four brothers; four sisters; and five grandchildren. Visitation...

Obituary: Lt. Col. John LaughinghouseLt. Col. John E. Laughinghouse, U.S. Army, retired, 84, of Russellville passed away Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 at Brookdale Senior Living Center in Russellville. The son of Earl and Josephine (Stringer) Laughinghouse, he was born March 27, 1932, in Jonesboro. He was a 1955 graduate of Arkansas State University. He entered the United States Army in December 1955 as a 2nd Lieutenant, with commission from R.O.T.C. He received training as a helicopt...

Obituary: Bobby FreemanBobby Lynn Freeman, age 78, of Dover went to meet his Savior on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at his home. He was born Nov. 22, 1937, in Lurton to Duel and Billie Juanita Myers Freeman. Bob will be remembered as a wonderful and loving husband and father that loved the outdoors indulging in his lifelong passion of hunting and fishing. He was always up for a good story or conversation and never met a stranger. He was an employee of Firestone over 12 y...

Obituary: Arlin ElmoreRev. Arlin B. Elmore, age 76, of Dover, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born Sept. 23, 1939, in Huntington to Buford and Maxine Elmore. He was an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God for over 50 years and also served as a sectional Youth Director and a Royal Ranger leader. He pastored churches in Arkansas and Oklahoma for 47 years and hosted “The Gospel ...

Obituary: Bobbie MahanBobbie Tanner Mahan, age 81, of Russellville died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. She was born Nov. 8, 1934, in Atkins to Lonnie Lowell and Mattie Bell Goodall Tanner. She was a Presbyterian. She worked then managed the 64 Drive-in Theatre for 22 years then owned and managed the Dairy Queen for 10 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, Benjamin Franklin Mahan and Paul ...